Biomimetic nano-apatites: how to guide crystal growth and surface chemistry to direct cell behaviour

The domain of biomedical material science is progressively necessitating sophisticated nanostructured materials for pharmaceuticals, tissue substitutes, regenerative agents, and biomedical devices. Apatites, the principal inorganic component of mammalian hard tissues, have garnered considerable interest in regenerative medicine and nanomedicine owing to their remarkable bioactivity. This thesis investigates the development of bioactive hydroxyapatite (HA) anisotropic nanoparticles (NPs) and assesses the impact of their physicochemical and surface properties on cellular fate and metabolism. The hydrothermal synthesis method was refined to replicate natural bone minerals, and the regulated replacement of Ca2+ ions with bioactive ions, such as Mg2+, Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions was inspected. The study examined the prospective applications of biomimetic apatite NPs in nanomedicine and tissue regeneration by analysing the loading and release mechanisms of antibiotics and antitumoral agents, as well as exploiting anisotropic features of HA NPs to guide cellular elongation and direction. The thesis seeks to enhance understanding of hydrothermal synthesis processes and facilitate the development of a new generation of biomimetic nanosystems applicable across multiple sectors.